It is a given that no matter what you do, you are sure to be criticized. Even if you are trying to bring about a positive change in your life, family, work place, organization or country, you will face criticism. You may even be working for the good of humanity, but you will still be criticized. Saintly souls are proof of this.

If you are wondering how much importance to give to the criticism you are receiving, look at the person doing the criticizing. Is there a vested interest behind his remarks? If you are trying to quit drinking, your drinking buddies may criticize you and encourage you to drink for 'old times' sake.' Are the critic's comments constructive, or derogatory and mean-spirited? Is he threatened by your views or your actions, or are his remarks truly a wakeup call for you? Determine to the best of your ability whether you should accept the criticism as feedback, or ignore it.

When you are doing something you believe in, do not give more importance to the critics than to your own views. History gives us evidence that visionaries were most often not popular with the masses.

Another thing: Remain positive in the face of criticism. Do not be disheartened. A certain politician was giving a speech when a heckler called out, "You are a dog." The clever politician said with a smile, "Thank you, my brother." Another was criticized by a leading magazine of his time as a 'filthy storyteller, despot, liar, thief, braggart, buffoon, usurper, monster, old scoundrel, perjurer, swindler, tyrant, field-butcher, and land-pirate.' Even his hometown newspaper called him 'the craftiest and most dishonest politician that ever disgraced an office in America." Who was he? Abraham Lincoln!